Pizza, pale ale and proper markets with professional flâneur, Sam Roberts
We ask 'Mr Ghostsigns' where he goes in London
Every now and again we like to ask people for their personal take on London. We get them to tell us the places in the city that they turn to for different reasons: the spots that excite them, inspire them, make them feel calm, happy or just make them want to spend money. We call it ‘Where do you go?’.
Photo by Gloria Soria.
This week we’re putting our WDYG? questions to Sam Roberts, also known as Mr Ghostsigns. Sam has walked the streets of London for years; tracking down and researching the “faded relics of London's advertising past” that are so easily overlooked, but which tell so many incredible stories about the city around us.
Sam’s book, Ghost Signs: A London Story is due to be published in November. You can order it (and pick up some of the exclusive rewards) via the Kickstarter page. And if you head over to Twitter you can vote in the final rounds of his Ghost Signs World Cup.
Who are you and why should we trust you?
I’m Sam Roberts aka Mr Ghostsigns. I've been documenting and researching old painted signs on walls for the last 15 years. I've also just written a book, Ghost Signs: A London Story, which will be published by Isola Press in November.
Where do you go to have a great time?
Anywhere that serves a nice pale ale. The Axe in Stoke Newington (below) has a good atmosphere and a small outdoor area. And in South London I like the Fountain & Ink which does great value pizzas.
Where do you go and always end up spending too much money?
Bookshops usually, for example Artwords on Rivington Street in Shoreditch. I'm interested in graphic design, lettering, urban decay and of course signwriting/painting. The book I've just finished writing is what I would have emptied my wallet for 15 years ago, but it wasn't available back then so I've had to write it myself.
Where do you go that can never close down, because if it does you might cry?
Ridley Road Market (below). It's got so much going on and Terry's stall (now retired but still going) is the best for fruit and veg. The whole market is ‘real’ and hasn't been turned into a pastiche. It's constantly under threat, but somehow keeps going, and long may that continue.
Where do you go that’s within walking distance of your house?
Sodo Pizza on Upper Clapton Road. This hasn't been around that long but has established itself as a great local sourdough pizza restaurant. My and my wife like to sit on the table for two just by the kitchen, see the pizzas going in and out of the oven, and feeling the buzz of the place. In the summer with kids we'll go for a table outside at the back. They also serve good pale ales (see earlier answer).
Where do you go when you can afford it?
The Bleeding Heart Tavern in Farringdon. A long time ago I took my girlfriend (now wife) there for a steak and chips just before Christmas. It became a bit of a tradition, and we love to get the little table on the mezzanine above the bar which is effectively private dining for two. The food is great, and they have an excellent selection of red wines to go with it.
Where do you go if you want to feel comfortable?
Candid Cafe in Islington (below). You can't always get one, but if you're lucky enough to have a sofa it's the sort of place you can lose a couple of hours just reading, talking, or whatever takes your fancy. They have a good selection of teas, soups, and other tasty food.
Where do you go to get inspired?
It's walking the streets for me, especially in parts of the city that I've never visited before. I'm obviously always on the lookout for ‘new’ old signs, and will even make a beeline to a far-flung place if one gets revealed for the first time.
The French have a great word, flâneur, which describes someone with “the ability to wander detached from society with no other purpose than to be an acute observer of industrialized, contemporary life,” and like to think that I often fit the bill.
Where do you go to think?
Bake Street Cafe on Evering Road. They do great coffee, have very good staff and make a whole host of things to spoil yourself with. My poison is the Salted Caramel Brownie, but you can also get a range of savoury stuff including the Smash Burger (below) and Tato Tots.
If you know of anyone that you think would make a good interview for our ‘Where do you go?’ series then let us know on Londoninbits@gmail.com.